In a bid to tackle the pressing issue of child and maternal mortality in Nigeria, Rotary International has allocated $2 million for dedicated projects over a three-year period.
The President of Rotary International, Mr. Gordon McInally, made this announcement during a community health engagement event held at LEA Primary School, Kuchingoro, Abuja, over the weekend.
With Rotary’s longstanding support for various projects in Nigeria, this new initiative, slated to run from 2023 to 2025, signals a continued effort towards combating child and maternal mortality and improving overall health outcomes in the country.
Expressing his commitment to making a difference in the lives of children both in Scotland and Nigeria, McInally reiterated Rotary’s dedication to improving healthcare systems, water and sanitation facilities, education, and environmental conditions.
“The allocated funds will support a multifaceted initiative operational in six states across Nigeria, aimed at enhancing family well-being by providing access to reproductive advice and contraception and promoting safe deliveries in clinical environments,” he said.
The international organisation also called on clinics to have the necessary equipment and facilities to support maternal and child health programmes.
Additionally, traditional birth attendants are encouraged to register pregnant women in healthcare facilities, emphasizing the importance of safe deliveries under medical supervision.
Highlighting Rotary’s broader scope of initiatives, the Chairman of the National Polio Plus Committee for Nigeria, Mr. Joshua Hassan, also disclosed Rotary’s allocation of $21 million to core partners in the global polio eradication initiative, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
This support extends to funding vaccine procurement, transportation, and surveillance operations crucial for identifying polio cases in communities.
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